Tobacco smoking and smoke processing device

ABSTRACT

A tobacco pipe for smokers that is characterized by a housing consisting of an integral bowl and shank. The bowl has a liner having an apertured bottom spaced above the bottom of the bowl housing. A system of nesting cup-shaped apertured baffles is attached to the lower end of the bowl liner. The system also includes an apertured horizontal disc. The parts of the system are relatively rotatable so that alignment of the apertures can be varied to control the smoke flow rate and direction at the exit of the system. The shank housing includes a series of plural baffles, each series being arranged to provide overlapping direction changing concentric smoke ducts. The housing has an apertured wall between the bowl and the shank and the shank baffles are arranged to deliver smoke to and through a mouthpiece.

United States Patent 91 Shisler June 26, 1973 [54] TOBACCO SMOKING AND SMOKE 7,850 1912 Great Britain 131/212 A PROCESSING DEVICE 306,287 2/1929 Great Britain 131/212 A Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich AttorneyFrancis T. Kremblas, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A tobacco pipe for smokers that is characterized by a housing consisting of an integral bowl and shank. The bowl has a liner having an apertured bottom spaced above the bottom of the bowl housing. A system of nesting cup-shaped apertured baffles is attached to the lower end of the bowl liner. The system also includes an apertured horizontal disc. The parts of the system are relatively rotatable so that alignment of the apertures can be varied to control the smoke flow rate and direction at the exit of the system. The shank housing includes a series of plural baffles, each series being arranged to provide overlapping direction changing con centric smoke ducts. The housing has an apertured wall between the bowl and the shank and the shank baffles are arranged to deliver smoke to and through a mouthpiece.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures [76] Inventor: William W.Shisler, 778 Morning Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085 [22] Filed: June 18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 47,204

[52] US. Cl ..131/210,131/212 A, 131/215 B [51] Int. Cl. A241 01/16 [58] Field of Search 131/205, 206, 215, 131/215A,21SB,210,212A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,886,375 11/1932 Clark 131/212 A 1,439,032 12/1922 Stevens... 131/212 A 2,667,175 1/1954 Parks 131/215 A 2,105,539 1/1938 Lange 131/215 A 3,057,362 10/1962 Flint 131/215 B 603,702 5/1898 Nax 1'31/215 B X 497,351 5/1893 Shields l3l/215 B 576,923 2/1897 Vetterman. 131/205 2,140,649 12/1938 Peder-y 131/205 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 611,953 4/1926 France 131/212 A l I i l l l i .J I I 1 l l 2 l 1 l 3 I ,1 1 l 1 1 TOBACCO SMOKING'AND SMOKE PROCESSING DEVICE The present invention relates to a pipe for smoking tobacco and more particularly to a device of this type which includes a novel structure forremoving particles of tobacco and products of combustion from the flow of smoke therethrough.

In general, the pipe of the present invention comprises a pipe housing which retains the components and includes a bowl portion and a shank portion. Said bowl portion includes a baffle means which includes a plurality of baffles provided with a plurality of staggered openings. The individual baffles form chambers at the bottom of the bowl portion and the passages are arranged to permit the passage of smoke with undesirable solid and liquid matter being collected in the chambers formed by the baffles, liquids being extracted here have higher viscosities and higher condensation temperatures.

'As another aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned shank portion includes a plurality of baffles formed by cylindrical members having rearwardly facing openings that is, facing the end of the shank placed in the smokers mouth which direct the flow of smoke from the bowl portion through baffle tubes and define a tortuous path before it is delivered to the smoke egress passage in the mouthpiece, liquids having-lower temperatures of condensation and lower viscosities are removed in the shank arrangement.

It should be mentioned that the shank baffle and tube arrangement and the bowl baffles, mentioned above, are effective in removing liquid matter from the smoke when the temperature of the vapor is reduced to the dew point whereby minute particles of liquid condense and adhere to the baffle surfaces, and then coalesce into entrappable and easily removable flowing liquid.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned shank baffle means include check valve means in the form of resilient elements which provide control of the draft as the smoke is drawn through the processing system, said valves permit egress of liquid in the direction opposite to that of smoke travel.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description,

.reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a retainer housing means comprising a portion of the pipe of the present invention which holds all other members in precise FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of a valving baffle housing comprising a portion of the pipe structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of a plurality of baffles adapted to be mounted in valving baffle housing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of a shank baffle means comprising a portion of the pipe of the preceding figures; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a cylindrical shank baffle and associated valve means comprising a portion of the shank baffle means of FIG. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the pipe of the present invention comprises a retainer housing 1 the walls of which are as thin as possible consistent with adequate strength to maximize conduction of heat outward from the bowl chamber 2 in which the bowl 14 fastens in spaced relation at sides and bottom and a shank 3 forming chamber 4 in which the mouthpiece 8 fastens in air tight closeness by the stem 9. The shank processing assembly including members 33 through 39 is removable as an assembly inside mouthpiece stem at 10 and projects in spaced relation at sides and endinside shank chamber 4. The housing may be of fiberglass, other variety of plastic, metal, ceramic or other suitable material. a

The two chambers 2 and 4 are connected by port 5 which is apassage for both smoke and liquid. The port 5 enters chamber 4 at its bottom so that fluid can enter the connecting port 5 freely and it enters chamber 2 some distance above its bottom to form the fluid trap 19 beneath the bowl processing member that is a nested assembly made of members 21, 24 and 30'which assembled member fastens removably to the bottom of the bowl 14 by friction or other suitable means.

The bowl 14 forms the tobacco burning chamber 15 and has a portion 16 by which the bowl fastens to the inside of the top of the retainer housing chamber 2 and because of which it is maintained in spaced relation with the inside of wall of chamber 2. The fastening may be by friction fit, mated threads or other method and must be air tight yet easily removable. In the bottom of the bowl is a plurality of smoke exhaust ports 17. The ports are of small diameter to prevent grains or flakes of tobacco escaping the bowl but sufficient in number to allow a free draw even if one or more should become clogged. The bowl 14 may be of briar, meershaum, corncob or other suitable material.

The baffle 21 fits inside the valving control member 24 which in turn fits inside a retaining cup 30. These members fit closely but not tightly together and when fastened as an assembled member to the bottom of the bowl 14 via the top edge of the retaining cup 30 comprises the bowl smoke processing member. The mount-- ing may be by friction fit, mated threads or other suitable means.

The baffle 21 may have one or a plurality of plates and each has a port 23 for smoke passage, the ports 23 alternating on opposite sides of the member to maximize the length of smoke travel to allow minute particles of suspended liquid to bombard and adhere to the various surfaces. If more than one plate is used, they are held together in spaced relation by any suitable means or by an integrally formed central post 22 as shown in FIG. 3. The baffle 21 rests on the bottom of the valving control member 24 on three or more supports 25 so that the lowest plate is above the side exhaust ports 26, 28 and 31 of the other two members 24 and 30.

The valving control member 24 has two ports 27 and 29 in the bottom and two ports 26 and 28 in the side.

When the valving member 24 is rotated inside the re-- tation of the valving control member 24 in the other direction brings ports 28 and 31 into alignment so smoke can exhaust from the side only. Other port arrangements and sizeswill allow other directions and volumes of smoke exhausting without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The retaining cup 30 fastens to the bottom of the bowl 14 by friction fit or other suitable means so that the entire assembly 21-24-30 can be simultaneously removed with the bowl 14. The processing member 21-24-30 may be fastened in any angular position with respect to the bowl 14.

As shown here, the shank processing member is comprised of eight members 33 40, members 33 39 fasten together and tube 40 fastens inside stem portion to project in functional relation to other parts of shank processing member 33 39. The mounting together of these members and mouthpiece 8 whould be only firm enough to prevent disassembly by the shaking and jarring in ordinary use, and the friction method is preferred but other methods can be used if necessary and desirable. I

Members 33 and 37 are of flexible and elastic material, such as synthetic rubber, plastic or other suitable material, and when fastened to tubular baffles 34 and 38, respectively, act as check valves. They may be fastened by snap-in-rim 41 through hole 42 in members 34 and38 or by any suitable conventional means such as afriction fit of a'resilient rim 41 disposed through a hole 42 to conjunction with the small tubes 35 and 40, the valved cylinders 33 34 and 37 38 form baffle tube arrangements. As shown in FIG. 3, the smoke is treated in its passage through two such baffle tube arrangements before entering flue 13 of mouthpiece 8. The tube 36 holds members 34 and 35 in functional relation. All of these members can be removed leaving a single baffle tube arrangement comprised of members 37, 38, 39 and 40.

With removal of the right hand baffle-tube 37-3- 8-40, there is space in the tube 36 for filtering material or substance that will impart special flavoring, such as menthol, or even medicants, to the smoke, still using baffle tube arrangement 33-34-35 to perform the necessary processing in somewhat diminished degree.

Fluid collects inside the valvedbaffles 33 34 and 37 38, and through the tortuous paths formed by the tubes 35 and 40 eliminating most of the chance that it will reach the mouth.

' Using part 33 34 as anexample, when the smoker draws on the mouthpiece 8 of the device, the flexible however, pressure pushes the flexible member 33 away from the orifice 43 and the air flow takes collected flu- I which are released as burning progresses. Water of The plurality of specially sized ports 17 in the bottom of the bowl 14 allow smoke to pass from the bowl with a minimum of stricturing and therefore very little moisture that would soften the tobacco collects in the unburned tobacco in the lower part of chamber 15. Consequently, it does not plug, the tobacco burns to the bottom readily, and the flavor remains the same throughout the smoke.

Whensmoke leaves the tobacco. chamber 15, it is searingly hot and the baffle 21 checks the intense heat so that it cannot re-vaporize liquid collected beneath it in the bowl processing member or in the fluid trap 19 beneath the bowl processing member.

Vapors cool when they expand and expansion occurs when they exit from the ports 17 with the result that they condense into minute particles of liquid. A film of liquid quickly forms on all surfaces inside the bowl processing members 21 and 24 and repeated changes in the direction of smoke travel through ports 23, 31 and 32 encourages this by bringing more liquid particles into contact with solid surfaces than would be the case in a less devious path of travel. The same action brings particles of solid matter into contact with moist surfaces where they adhere.

Spaces 18, 19 and 20 are as large as possible consistent with an acceptable size of the device to maximize expansive cooling of vapors when they exhaust from the bowl processing member 21-24-30. By maximizing the height of peripheral space 18, heat is distributed to the bowl housing wall 1 evenly, thus preventing an excessively hot zone localized immediately opposite the burning layer of tobacco. As a result of expansive cooling, liquid collects copiously in the trap space 19 and in shank chamber 4 from which it is readily drained into the trap 19 through the specially oriented port 5. This may be accomplished by merely raising the shank portion upwardly, or conversely, lowering the bowl portion below the level of mouthpiece 8. Then the smoker exhales into the mouthpiece to force open valves 33 and 37 which forces theliquid with the aid of gravity to flow through port 5 and into trap space 19. Of course, periodically space 19 may be easily cleaned using an absorbent tissue or the like by simply removing the assembly formed by members 14, 21, 24, and 30. The housing walls will be as thin as possible consistent with adequate strength to maximize conduction of heat from the spaces 18, 19 and 20. Bafflement by member 21 of the intense heat in the smoke as it leaves the bowl 15 prevents crackling and frying, and arrangement and sizes of the spaces through which the smoke travels prevents gurgling, all of which are common with the usual pipe. Most of the more viscous and sticky tars are removed in the lower part of bowl housing chamber 2, otherwise they could cause sticking of the check valves 33 and 37 on the shank processing member 33 40 which removes liquids of lower viscosities.

Expansive cooling when vapors with lower dew points pass from small port 5 into relatively large space 20, lowers their temperatures to their dew points, and the shank processing member 33 40 collects more flowing liquid. First, minute liquid particles bombard the end member and check valve 33 as the smoke stream is divided to pass around it, next the smoke is strictured through a plurality of small intake ports 44, then the smoke simultaneously expands and radically changes direction of travel to reach the intake end of tube 35. This process is repeated as many times as there are baffle tube arrangements 33-34-35 and 37-38 40 through which the smoke must pass, with the result that much liquid collects on and in the shank processing member due to the opportunity for minute suspended liquid particles to bombard and adhere to solid walls.

Blowing through the mouthpiece forces flexible and elastic check valves 33 and 37 away from orifices 43, at the same time forcing liquid out. The mouthpiece 8 and shank processing member 33 40 fasten together so when the mouthpiece is removed from the shank 3 the processing member 33 40 removes with it and can be easily cleaned on the outside. The processing member 33 40 needs be disassembled for cleaning only infrequently.

When the bowl 14 is removed, the housing processing member 21-24-30, being attached, removes simultaneously so its outer surface and that of the bowl are easily cleaned. In the process of smoking the device, liquid and the fine solids it contains are kept so well drained from the housing processing member 21-2- 4-30 that it seldom needs disassembly for cleaning. The specially sized bowl exhausts 17 prevent tobacco flakes of such size as to plug ports 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 and 32 in the processing member from escaping the bowl and a-specially sized reaming tool, not illustrated, which is an adjunct to the invention, assures easy and precise maintenance of the exhaust ports 17 at the proper diameter.

Space 19 in the bottom of housing chamber 2 is large enough to holda flat-coiled pipe cleaner, piece of blotter paper or other liquid absorbing medium without impairing the expanding-cocling-condensing action. Such an absorbing medium is merely shaken out of the chamber 2. Otherwise the liquid is easily poured out or wiped out with an absorbent substance such as facial tissue.

I claim:

1. A pipe for smoking tobacco of the type that includes a smoke processing system, said pipe comprising, in combination, a housing including a bowl portion and a shank portion, said shank portion including a mouthpiece provided with a smoke releasing channel; removable baffle means in said bowl portion including a baffle means provided with staggered openings which permit the egress of smoke from the bowl portion to the shank portion, said baffle forming chambers for the collection of particles of tobacco and products of combustion thereof,'said baffle means including adjustable exhaust ports for controlling the rate of flow of smoke therefrom; and baffle means in said shank portion including a generally cylindrical member (members provided with rearwardly facing openings that divert the flow of smoke from said staggered openings in said bowl baffle means to said smoke egress passage) having a closed front end and inlet port means adjacent but spaced from the opposing rear end; a tubular duct mounted in said rear end and extending forwardly in said cylindrical member to form an outlet port means whereby smoke entering said inlet port means is forced to travel an elongated path between said inlet and outlet port means. i

2. A pipe for smoking tobacco of the type that includes a smoke processing system, said pipe comprising, in combination, a housing including a bowl portion and a shank portion, said shank portion including a mouthpiece provided with a smoke releasing channel; removable baffle means in said bowl portion including a baffle means provided with staggered openings which permit the egress of smoke from the bowl portion to the shank portion,- said baffle means including a baffle housing provided with a plurality of exhaust ports and rotatable valve means disposed in said baffle housing and communicating with said ports and said baffle means to control the rate of flow of smoke through and from said baffle means (said baffles forming chambers for the collection of particles of tobacco and products of combustion thereof); a removable bowl member in said housing including passage means in a wall thereof which communicates with said baffle means, said bowl serving to retain said baffle means in said housing; and baffle means in said shank portion that divert the flow of smoke from said staggered openings in said bowl baffle meansto said smoke egress passage.

3. A pipe for smoking tobacco of the type that includes a smoke processing system, said pipe comprising, in combination, a housing including a bowl portion and a shank portion, said shank portion including a mouthpiece provided with a smoke releasing channel; removable baffle means in said bowl portion including a plurality of baffles provided with staggered openings which permit the passage of smoke the'rethrough from the bowl portion to the shank portion, said baffles forming chambers for the collection of particles of tobacco and products of combustion thereof, said baffle means including adjustable exhaust ports for the controlled flow of smoke; and passage means in said shank portion for conducting smoke from the baffle means of the bowl to said smoke releasing channel; shank baffle means mounted in said passage means and including an elongate hollow member having an open end portion and provided with a smoke inlet disposed near but spaced from said open end position of said member nearest said smoke releasing channel and a normally closed opposite end, a tubular duct means mounted within said hollow member in sealing relationship to said open end and extending toward said closed end to define an elongated path for smoke entering through said smoke inlet in said hollow member and exiting through said tubular duct before passing through said smoke releasing channel.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 that includes a check valve for said closed end of said hollow member normally closed when smoke is-drawn from the bowl portion by the user.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 3 that includes a plurality of baffle means removably mounted in said passage means in said shank portion.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,741,221 I Dated 4;, .1373

Inventor-(s) William 5:, fihi l It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Coluzpn 5, line 66, eancel beginning wirizn "(members I prg-v to and including, {egress passage)!" in Column 6, line 2, I

Column (3, line 23, cancel beginning with "(said i orming C?"'1&l"-.1IT:Q1'S" to and including "combustinn tnereor) 1T1 Ccilasmn b, line 25'.

Signed and sealed thisfih Hay of Nbiifiibf (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. I'EGTMEYER v Attesting Officer Actin'g ommnissioner at Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) 

1. A pipe for smoking tobacco of the type that includes a smoke processing system, said pipe comprising, in combination, a housing including a bowl portion and a shank portion, said shank portion including a mouthpiece provided with a smoke releasing channel; removable baffle means in said bowl portion including a baffle means provided with staggered openings which permit the egress of smoke from the bowl portion to the shank portion, said baffle forming chambers for the collection of particles of tobacco and products of combustion thereof, said baffle means including adjustable exhaust ports for controlling the rate of flow of smoke therefrom; and baffle means in said shank portion including a generally cylindrical member (members provided with rearwardly facing openings that divert the flow of smoke from said staggered openings in said bowl baffle means to said smoke egress passage) having a closed front end and inlet port means adjacent but spaced from the opposing rear end; a tubular duct mounted in said rear end and extending forwardly in said cylindrical member to form an outlet port means whereby smoke entering said inlet port means is forced to travel an elongated path between said inlet and outlet port means.
 2. A pipe for smoking tobacco of the type that includes a smoke processing system, said pipe comprising, in combination, a housing including a bowl portion and a shank portion, said shank portion including a mouthpiece provided with a smoke releasing channel; removable baffle means in said bowl portion including a baffle means provided with staggered openings which permit the egress of smoke from the bowl portion to the shank portion, said baffle means including a baffle housing provided with a plurality of exhaust ports and rotatable valve means disposed in said baffle housing and communicating with said ports and said baffle means to control the rate of flow of smoke through and from said baffle means (said baffles forming chambers for the collection of particles of tobacco and products of combustion thereof); a removable bowl member in said housing including passage means in a wall thereof which communicates with said baffle means, said bowl serving to retain said baffle means in said housing; and baffle means in said shank portion that divert the flow of smoke from said staggered openings in said bowl baffle means to said smoke egress passage.
 3. A pipe for smoking tobacco of the type that includes a smoke processing system, said pipe comprising, in coMbination, a housing including a bowl portion and a shank portion, said shank portion including a mouthpiece provided with a smoke releasing channel; removable baffle means in said bowl portion including a plurality of baffles provided with staggered openings which permit the passage of smoke therethrough from the bowl portion to the shank portion, said baffles forming chambers for the collection of particles of tobacco and products of combustion thereof, said baffle means including adjustable exhaust ports for the controlled flow of smoke; and passage means in said shank portion for conducting smoke from the baffle means of the bowl to said smoke releasing channel; shank baffle means mounted in said passage means and including an elongate hollow member having an open end portion and provided with a smoke inlet disposed near but spaced from said open end position of said member nearest said smoke releasing channel and a normally closed opposite end, a tubular duct means mounted within said hollow member in sealing relationship to said open end and extending toward said closed end to define an elongated path for smoke entering through said smoke inlet in said hollow member and exiting through said tubular duct before passing through said smoke releasing channel.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 that includes a check valve for said closed end of said hollow member normally closed when smoke is drawn from the bowl portion by the user.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 3 that includes a plurality of baffle means removably mounted in said passage means in said shank portion. 